Allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote the expression of chondrocyte redifferentiation markers and retard the progression of knee osteoarthritis in rabbits.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressively degenerative disease of joints. In vitro culture of chondrocytes results in dedifferentiation, which is characterized by the development of fibroblast phenotypes, reduced ability to produce cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) and increase the expression of molecular markers Col1a1, Col10a1 and Runx2. Redifferentiation of chondrocytes is indicated by increased expression of the molecular markers Col2a1, Aggrecan and Sox9. In the current study, we investigated the effects of allogeneic rabbit adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) on articular chondrocytes, and explored the therapeutic effect of ADSCs on damaged articular cartilage at different stages in a rabbit OA model. In vitro , the proliferation and migration of primary articular chondrocytes were enhanced by cocultured rabbit ADSCs, and the expression of redifferentiation markers in chondrocytes cocultured with ADSCs was increased at both the mRNA and protein levels, while the expression of dedifferentiation markers was decreased. In vivo , the rabbit model of OA was established by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) with complete medial meniscectomy (MMx). Two weeks after surgery, ADSCs were used for OA rabbit treatment. Intra-articular injection of ADSCs gradually alleviated articular cartilage destruction, decreased Osteoarthritis Research Society International (

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.